Artificial denture



Oct. 22, 1929. B. KEASNOFF 1,732,899

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE Filed Feb. 20-, 1925 l NVEN TOR Bernard Krasno/f BY VQZ/ki/ W/ZCIFORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1929 BERNARD KRASNOFF, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ARTIFICIAL DENTUBE Application filed. February 20, 1928. S eriaI NO. 255,800.

My invention relates to means for retaining artificial dentures, such as removable plates and bridge work, in place in the mouth, and the same has for its object more particularly to provide a simple, eiiicient and comfortable device which serves to supplement the plate or bridge straddling the gum or the anchorages thereof, or both, in retaining the same in place, and which may be readily manipulated to permit of the removal of the denture.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified which is attached to the plate and extends beyond the same in engagement with the gum for retaining the plate in place.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the supplemental, retaining means serves to exert a resilient or yielding pressure on the gum beyond the plate.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the gum engaging extension or tongue conforms to the contour of the surface of the gum to effect a comfortable extended surface engagement therewith.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the gum engaging extension thereof is flexible, and resiliently or yieldingly engages the gum, and may be readily manipulated to release the denture.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which a pivoted member is maintained under spring pressure in engagement with the gum beyond the edges of the plate.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invenion consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing one form of device constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a gum engaging extension or tongue; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view looking at the inner side of the tongue.

Referring to the drawing, the denture 10 consists of the usual plate or bridge 12 adapted to straddle the gum and having the artificial teeth 14 set therein. ,The denture 10 is provided with anchoring members or clasps 16 adapted to removably engage the usual natural or pier teeth.

The supplemental means for retaining the denture in place comprises a pair of extensions ortongues 18 which extend upwardly from the bridge orplate 12 and inwardly towards each other at the open front of the denture where theguni is substantially fully exposed. These tongues or extensions 18 conform in contour with the contour of the surface of the gum with which they engage, and the same are curved to extend from points in close proximity to the bases of the teeth 14 below the bulging portion or ridge of the gum over the bulging portion of the gum into the hollow or depressed portion thereof. The contourof the tongues 18 is obtained from the impressions taken of the jaw, in the same manner that the contour of the plate is obtained. i

The members 18 are flexibly connected to the plate, andin the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, each comprises a member 20 pivotedto the reinforced or thickened portion22 of the plate 12 ona vertical axis 24:. The member 20 is maintained resiliently or yieldingly in engagement with the gum by the spring26, preferably of wire formation, secured at one end to the part 22 and extending over the pivot 24, through a loop 28 i on the outer side "of the tongue, serving to retain the spring 26 in place in engagement with the tongue 18. The outer end of the spring 26 has an enlargement or ball 30 thereon which is received in a recess 32 at the outer'side of the portion 20. The pressure ofthe spring 26 on the member 20 is distributed uniformly thereover and causes the same tobear on the gum uniformly throughdistributed spring pressure over the surface of the gum, and providing an eflicient holding device which may be worn With comfort.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a plate having artificial teeth thereon, a tongue projecting from said plate and hinged thereto, a spring connected to said plate and extending over said hinge and engaging said tongue, and means on said tongue for retaining said spring in engagement therewith.

2. A device of the character described comprising a plate having artificial teeth thereon, a hinged tongue projecting upwardly and inwardly'from said plate and conforming in contour with the surface of the gum engagedthereby; said tongue having a loop on the outer surface thereof and a recess beyond said loop, and an elongated spring attached to said plate and extending over said hinge and through said loop; said spring having an enlargement at theouter end thereof received within said recess.

3. A device of the character described comprising a plate having separated gum engaging portions serving to expose an intermediate portion of the natural gum, and tongues hinged upon vertically extending axes substantially at the inner ends of said gum engaging portions and extending towards each other, circumferentially and diagonally relative to the exposed gum portion, and ada ted to conform in contour therewith, an spring members for maintaining said hinged tongues in engagement with the gum.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plate having separated gum engaging portions serving to expose a portion of the natural gum, and tongue memhers hinged at the inner portion thereof to said gum engaging portions upon vertically extending .axes and extending towards each other over the gum portions thus exposed, and resilient means for pressing said tongue members against the gum.

5. A device of the character described 7 comprising a plate having a gum engaging the outside of said member for pressing the same against the gum.

6. A device of the character described comprising a plate having teeth and a gum engaging portion, a yieldable tongue projectin from said gum engaging portion and exten ing over an exposed portion of the gum, a loop on the outer side of said tongue and a recess thereon beyond said loop, and a spring member attached to said gum engaging portion and extending along said member and through said loop, and havin an enlargement at the outer end thereof received Within said recess.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

BERNARD KRASNOFF. 

